Intrinsic and Effective Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Cases Infected With the Ancestral Strain and Omicron BA.2 Variant in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Understanding severity of infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants is crucial to inform public health measures. Here we used coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient data from Hong Kong to characterize the severity profile of COVID-19. METHODS: Time-varying and age-specific effective severity measured by case hospitalization risk and hospitalization fatality risk was estimated with all individual COVID-19 case data collected in Hong Kong from 23 January 2020 through 26 October 2022 over 6 epidemic waves. The intrinsic severity of Omicron BA.2 was compared with the estimate for the ancestral strain with the data from unvaccinated patients without previous infections. RESULTS: With 32 222 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 9669 deaths confirmed over 6 epidemic waves, the time-varying hospitalization fatality risk dramatically increased from <10% before the largest fifth wave of Omicron BA.2 to 41% during the peak of the fifth wave when hospital resources were severely constrained. The age-specific fatality risk in unvaccinated hospitalized Omicron cases was comparable to the estimates for unvaccinated cases with the ancestral strain. During epidemics predominated by Omicron BA.2, fatality risk was highest among older unvaccinated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Omicron has comparable intrinsic severity to the ancestral Wuhan strain, although the effective severity is substantially lower in Omicron cases due to vaccination.

A Retrospective Study of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria Associated with Feline and Canine Urinary Tract Infection in Hong Kong SAR, China-A Case Study on Implication of First-Line Antibiotics Use.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common clinical diagnosis for which empirical antibiotics are used in veterinary medicine. For veterinarians, the description of canine and feline antibiograms can help with making prudent use decisions and guideline formulation. For public health officers and epidemiologists, a urinary antibiogram overview helps track and trend antimicrobial resistance (AMR). There is currently a knowledge gap in AMR prevalence associated with urinary tract infection in feline and canine patients and the resistance percentage of these microbes against some of the over-the-counter antibiotics available to local pet owners. This study has two aims. First, it aims to investigate the frequency of the bacteria and bacterial-resistance pattern in urine samples obtained from feline and canine patients. Second, it aims to determine the resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli), the most frequently isolated bacteria, to first-line antibiotics. Results: We identified the five most-frequently isolated bacterial species and determined these isolates' antibiotic sensitivity and resistance. The most-frequently isolated bacteria in feline and canine patients was Escherichia coli (E. coli). E. coli was identified, on average, in 37.2% of canine and 46.5% of feline urine samples. Among feline urinary samples, Enterococcus (14.7%) and Staphylococcus (14.5%) spp. were isolated more frequently, followed by Pseudomonas (4.8%) and Klebsiella (5.2%) spp. (). In canine samples, Proteus (17.9%) and Staphylococcus (13.2%) spp. were isolated more frequently, followed by Enterococcus (10.0%) and Klebsiella (8.59%) spp. Among these isolates, 40 to 70% of Staphylococcus spp. bacterial isolates from feline and canine patients were resistant to amoxicillin and ampicillin. During the three-year study period, among canine patients, 10 to 20% of Staphylococcus spp. bacterial isolates were resistance to fluoroquinolones, other quinolones, and third-generation cephalosporins. Among feline patients, 10% of Staphylococcus spp., 15 to 20% of E. coli, 50 to 60% of Klebsiella spp., and 90% of Pseudomonas spp. were resistant to cefovecin, a commonly used antibiotic.

Epidemiology of Infections with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 Variant, Hong Kong, January-March 2022.

Our analysis of data collected from multiple epidemics in Hong Kong indicated a shorter serial interval and generation time of infections with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The age-specific case-fatality risk for Omicron BA.2.2 case-patients without complete primary vaccination was comparable to that of persons infected with ancestral strains in earlier waves.

Estimating excess septicaemia mortality and hospitalisation burden associated with influenza in Hong Kong, 1998 to 2019.

Influenza virus infections can lead to a number of secondary complications, including sepsis. We applied linear regression models to mortality and hospital admission data coded for septicaemia from 1998 to 2019 in Hong Kong, and estimated that septicaemia was associated with an annual average excess mortality rate of 0.23 (95% CI 0.04-0.40) per 100 000 persons per year and an excess septicaemia hospitalisation rate of 1.73 (95% CI 0.94-2.50) per 100 000 persons per year. The highest excess morbidity and mortality was found in older adults and young children, and during influenza A(H3N2) epidemics.

Incorporating temporal distribution of population-level viral load enables real-time estimation of COVID-19 transmission.

Many locations around the world have used real-time estimates of the time-varying effective reproductive number ([Formula: see text]) of COVID-19 to provide evidence of transmission intensity to inform control strategies. Estimates of [Formula: see text] are typically based on statistical models applied to case counts and typically suffer lags of more than a week because of the latent period and reporting delays. Noting that viral loads tend to decline over time since illness onset, analysis of the distribution of viral loads among confirmed cases can provide insights into epidemic trajectory. Here, we analyzed viral load data on confirmed cases during two local epidemics in Hong Kong, identifying a strong correlation between temporal changes in the distribution of viral loads (measured by RT-qPCR cycle threshold values) and estimates of [Formula: see text] based on case counts. We demonstrate that cycle threshold values could be used to improve real-time [Formula: see text] estimation, enabling more timely tracking of epidemic dynamics.

Estimation of Relative Vaccine Effectiveness in Influenza: A Systematic Review of Methodology.

BACKGROUND: When new vaccine components or platforms are developed, they will typically need to demonstrate noninferiority or superiority over existing products, resulting in the assessment of relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE). This review aims to identify how rVE evaluation is being performed in studies of influenza to inform a more standardized approach. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science for studies reporting rVE comparing vaccine components, dose, or vaccination schedules. We screened titles, abstracts, full texts, and references to identify relevant articles. We extracted information on the study design, relative comparison made, and the definition and statistical approach used to estimate rVE in each study. RESULTS: We identified 63 articles assessing rVE in influenza virus. Studies compared multiple vaccine components (n = 38), two or more doses of the same vaccine (n = 17), or vaccination timing or history (n = 9). One study compared a range of vaccine components and doses. Nearly two-thirds of all studies controlled for age, and nearly half for comorbidities, region, and sex. Assessment of 12 studies presenting both absolute and relative effect estimates suggested proportionality in the effects, resulting in implications for the interpretation of rVE effects. CONCLUSIONS: Approaches to rVE evaluation in practice is highly varied, with improvements in reporting required in many cases. Extensive consideration of methodologic issues relating to rVE is needed, including the stability of estimates and the impact of confounding structure on the validity of rVE estimates.

Burden of influenza-associated outpatient influenza-like illness consultations in China, 2006-2015: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Human influenza virus infections cause a considerable burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide each year. Understanding regional influenza-associated outpatient burden is crucial for formulating control strategies against influenza viruses. METHODS: We extracted the national sentinel surveillance data on outpatient visits due to influenza-like-illness (ILI) and virological confirmation of sentinel specimens from 30 provinces of China from 2006 to 2015. Generalized additive regression models were fitted to estimate influenza-associated excess ILI outpatient burden for each individual province, accounting for seasonal baselines and meteorological factors. RESULTS: Influenza was associated with an average of 2.5 excess ILI consultations per 1000 person-years (py) in 30 provinces of China each year from 2006 to 2015. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 led to a higher number of influenza-associated ILI consultations in 2009 across all provinces compared with other years. The excess ILI burden was 4.5 per 1000 py among children aged below 15 years old, substantially higher than that in adults. CONCLUSIONS: Human influenza viruses caused considerable impact on population morbidity, with a consequent healthcare and economic burden. This study provided the evidence for planning of vaccination programs in China and a framework to estimate burden of influenza-associated outpatient consultations.

Influenza-associated excess respiratory mortality in China, 2010-15: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The estimation of influenza-associated excess mortality in countries can help to improve estimates of the global mortality burden attributable to influenza virus infections. We did a study to estimate the influenza-associated excess respiratory mortality in mainland China for the 2010-11 through 2014-15 seasons. METHODS: We obtained provincial weekly influenza surveillance data and population mortality data for 161 disease surveillance points in 31 provinces in mainland China from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the years 2005-15. Disease surveillance points with an annual average mortality rate of less than 0·4% between 2005 and 2015 or an annual mortality rate of less than 0·3% in any given years were excluded. We extracted data for respiratory deaths based on codes J00-J99 under the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases. Data on respiratory mortality and population were stratified by age group (age <60 years and ≥60 years) and aggregated by province. The overall annual population data of each province and national annual respiratory mortality data were compiled from the China Statistical Yearbook. Influenza surveillance data on weekly proportion of samples testing positive for influenza virus by type or subtype for 31 provinces were extracted from the National Sentinel Hospital-based Influenza Surveillance Network. We estimated influenza-associated excess respiratory mortality rates between the 2010-11 and 2014-15 seasons for 22 provinces with valid data in the country using linear regression models. Extrapolation of excess respiratory mortality rates was done using random-effect meta-regression models for nine provinces without valid data for a direct estimation of the rates. FINDINGS: We fitted the linear regression model with the data from 22 of 31 provinces in mainland China, representing 83·0% of the total population. We estimated that an annual mean of 88 100 (95% CI 84 200-92 000) influenza-associated excess respiratory deaths occurred in China in the 5 years studied, corresponding to 8·2% (95% CI 7·9-8·6) of respiratory deaths. The mean excess respiratory mortality rates per 100 000 person-seasons for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), and B viruses were 1·6 (95% CI 1·5-1·7), 2·6 (2·4-2·8), and 2·3 (2·1-2·5), respectively. Estimated excess respiratory mortality rates per 100 000 person-seasons were 1·5 (95% CI 1·1-1·9) for individuals younger than 60 years and 38·5 (36·8-40·2) for individuals aged 60 years or older. Approximately 71 000 (95% CI 67 800-74 100) influenza-associated excess respiratory deaths occurred in individuals aged 60 years or older, corresponding to 80% of such deaths. INTERPRETATION: Influenza was associated with substantial excess respiratory mortality in China between 2010-11 and 2014-15 seasons, especially in older adults aged at least 60 years. Continuous and high-quality surveillance data across China are needed to improve the estimation of the disease burden attributable to influenza and the best public health interventions are needed to curb this burden. FUNDING: National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, National Science and Technology Major Project of China, National Institute of Health Research, the Harvard Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the China-US Collaborative Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Disease.

Determinants of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence in the Asia-Pacific region: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Published literature on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the Asia-Pacific region was reviewed to document the prevalence of MRSA in the region and to examine the impact of variability in study design on the reported MRSA prevalence data. METHODS: This review included studies reporting MRSA prevalence between 2000 and 2016. Studies were excluded if they did not contain complete information on antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods. Primary outcomes were the proportion of MRSA among S. aureus isolates (resistance proportion) or among individual samples (prevalence). RESULTS: A total of 229 studies in 19 countries/territories were included in the study. There was substantial heterogeneity in both outcomes (resistance proportion, I2=99.59%; prevalence, I2=99.83%), precluding pooled averages, and meta-regression analyses revealed that these variations were explained by country income status and participant characteristics but not by methodological differences in AST. Also, no significant secular changes in MRSA prevalence or resistance proportions in Asia-Pacific were found. CONCLUSION: The resistance proportions and prevalence of MRSA infections in Asia-Pacific are comparable with those reported in other regions with no significant secular changes in the past decade. Country income status and characteristics of the sample population explained more variation in the reported resistance proportions and prevalence of MRSA than methodological differences in AST across locations in the region.

Heterogeneity in Estimates of the Impact of Influenza on Population Mortality: A Systematic Review.

Influenza viruses are associated with a substantial global burden of morbidity and mortality every year. Estimates of influenza-associated mortality often vary between studies due to differences in study settings, methods, and measurement of outcomes. We reviewed 103 published articles assessing population-based influenza-associated mortality through searches of PubMed and Embase, and we identified considerable variation in the statistical methods used across studies. Studies using regression models with an influenza activity proxy applied 4 approaches to estimate influenza-associated mortality. The estimates increased with age and ranged widely, from -0.3-1.3 and 0.6-8.3 respiratory deaths per 100,000 population for children and adults, respectively, to 4-119 respiratory deaths per 100,000 population for older adults. Meta-regression analysis identified that study design features were associated with the observed variation in estimates. The estimates increased with broader cause-of-death classification and were higher for older adults than for children. The multiplier methods tended to produce lower estimates, while Serfling-type models were associated with higher estimates than other methods. No "average" estimate of excess mortality could reliably be made due to the substantial variability of the estimates, partially attributable to methodological differences in the studies. Standardization of methodology in estimation of influenza-associated mortality would permit improved comparisons in the future.

A joint analysis of influenza-associated hospitalizations and mortality in Hong Kong, 1998-2013.

Influenza viruses may cause severe human infections leading to hospitalization or death. Linear regression models were fitted to population-based data on hospitalizations and deaths. Surveillance data on influenza virus activity permitted inference on influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths. The ratios of these estimates were used as a potential indicator of severity. Influenza was associated with 431 (95% CrI: 358-503) respiratory deaths and 12,700 (95% CrI: 11,700-13,700) respiratory hospitalizations per year. Majority of the excess deaths occurred in persons ≥65 y of age. The ratios of deaths to hospitalizations in adults ≥65 y were significantly higher for influenza A(H1N1) and A(H1N1)pdm09 compared to A(H3N2) and B. Substantial disease burden associated with influenza viruses were estimated in Hong Kong particularly among children and elderly in 1998-2013. Infections with influenza A(H1N1) was suggested to be more serious than A(H3N2) in older adults.

Population seroprevalence of antibody to influenza A(H7N9) virus, Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Since the identification in early 2013 of severe disease caused by influenza A(H7N9) virus infection, there have been few attempts to characterize the full severity profile of human infections. Our objective was to estimate the number and severity of H7N9 infections in Guangzhou, using a serological study. METHODS: We collected residual sera from patients of all ages admitted to a hospital in the city of Guangzhou in southern China in 2013 and 2014. We screened the sera using a haemagglutination inhibition assay against a pseudovirus containing the H7 and N9 of A/Anhui/1/2013(H7N9), and samples with a screening titer ≥10 were further tested by standard hemagglutination-inhibition and virus neutralization assays for influenza A(H7N9). We used a statistical model to interpret the information on antibody titers in the residual sera, assuming that the residual sera provided a representative picture of A(H7N9) infections in the general population, accounting for potential cross-reactions. RESULTS: We collected a total of 5360 residual sera from December 2013 to April 2014 and from October 2014 to December 2014, and found two specimens that tested positive for H7N9 antibody at haemagglutination inhibition titer ≥40 and a neutralization titer ≥40. Based on this, we estimated that 64,000 (95 % credibility interval: 7300, 190,000) human infections with influenza A(H7N9) virus occurred in Guangzhou in early 2014, with an infection-fatality risk of 3.6 deaths (95 % credibility interval: 0.47, 15) per 10,000 infections. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that the number of influenza A(H7N9) virus infections in Guangzhou substantially exceeded the number of laboratory-confirmed cases there, albeit with considerable imprecision. Our study was limited by the small number of positive specimens identified, and larger serologic studies would be valuable. Our analytic framework would be useful if larger serologic studies are done.

Natural alternatives to tackling high cholesterol: guidance for community nurses.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued its final guidance in July on lipid modification, making millions more adults eligible for statin treatment. However, community nurses may encounter many patients for whom statin use is not appropriate for a variety of reasons. This article provides advice for community nurses on methods for improving patients' cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease if statins are not to be used. The article explains the current situation in the UK in relation to cholesterol, then gives dietary and lifestyle modifications that may help to lower cholesterol levels and help maintain good heart and circulatory health.

The effect of a low-protein diet in pregnancy on offspring renal calcium handling.

Low birth weight humans and rats exposed to a low-protein diet in utero have reduced bone mineral content. Renal calcium loss during the period of rapid skeletal growth is associated with bone loss. Because young rats exposed to low protein display altered renal function, we tested the hypothesis that renal calcium excretion is perturbed in this model. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed isocalorific diets containing either 18% (control) or 9% (low) protein throughout gestation. Using standard renal clearance techniques, Western blotting for renal calcium transport proteins, and assays for Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and serum calcitropic hormones, we characterized calcium handling in 4-wk-old male offspring. Histomorphometric analyses of femurs revealed a reduction in trabecular bone mass in low-protein rats. Renal calcium (control vs. low protein: 10.4 +/- 2.1 vs. 27.6 +/- 4.5 nmol x min(-1) x 100 g body wt(-1); P < 0.01) and sodium excretion were increased, but glomerular filtration rate was reduced in low-protein animals. Total plasma calcium was reduced in low-protein rats (P < 0.01), but ionized calcium, serum calcitropic hormone concentrations, and total body calcium did not differ. There was no significant change in plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase pump, epithelial calcium channel, or calbindin-D(28K) expression in low-protein rat kidneys. However, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity was 36% lower (P < 0.05) in low-protein rats. These data suggest that the hypercalciuria of low-protein rats arises through a reduction in passive calcium reabsorption in the proximal tubule rather than active distal tubule uptake. This may contribute to the reduction in bone mass observed in this model.

Increased renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and magnesium by the offspring of diabetic rat pregnancy.

Diabetic pregnancy has a marked influence on offspring calcium and magnesium homeostasis. Urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium is reduced, yet offspring of diabetic pregnancy exhibit hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia. The aim of this study was to measure renal hemodynamic and tubular function in the offspring of diabetic (OD) and control, nondiabetic (OC) rats at 4 and 8 wk of age to determine the glomerular and tubular mechanisms through which renal calcium and magnesium handling are programmed in utero. The fraction of filtered calcium that was excreted was significantly lower in OD at both 4 and 8 wk of age [8 wk: OC (n = 6), 11.8 +/- 2.9 versus OD (n = 5), 4.3 +/- 0.6%; p < 0.05] and that of magnesium was lower at 8 wk of age [OC (n = 6), 42.4 +/- 7.5 versus OD (n = 5), 13.0 +/- 1.7%; p < 0.01]. This increased reabsorption occurred despite an elevated GFR in OD. These findings clearly indicate that tubular reabsorptive mechanisms for calcium and magnesium are increased markedly in OD. Serum PTH concentration was reduced in 8-wk-old OD [OC (n = 7), 539.4 +/- 142.1 versus OD (n = 9), 174.3 +/- 69.4 pg/ml; p < 0.05], consistent with previous reports in human infants. Taken together, these observations suggest that the basis for the altered renal magnesium and calcium handling in OD involves increased tubular transport activity and possibly increased sensitivity of these mechanisms to PTH.